And, she said, the traditional large suburban lots will become obsolete as seniors, and young adults, opt for smaller living spaces in higher-density developments such as apartments or condominiums.

"It will take some adjustment to get people used to the idea that this is housing for their aging parents," she said.

In South Jordan, Shaw points to the Daybreak development as a model of the type of community he hopes will continue to attract new residents. The plan is for a walkable community with a variety of housing styles, open space and easy access to transit.

A rail line ending at Daybreak is among 70 miles of new rail under development over the next seven years, said Carrie Bohnsack-Ware, spokeswoman for the Utah Transit Authority.

The lines, along with a new bus rapid transit route that will extend west from the 3300 South TRAX station to Magna, will provide commuters with more transit options, she said.

Even as the suburbs become more urban, traditional urban cores are re-emerging, in Utah and nationally.

Perlich said Salt Lake City, which had declined for decades, showed growth in 2000, and housing data shows that growth has continued. The economics of transportation and housing costs could accelerate the trend, she says.

"People are not going to continue to move to the suburbs at as high a rate," Perlich said. "The central cities are re-emerging."

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E-mail: dbulkeley@desnews.com